Record repeater for sound-reproducing instruments



f Oct. 13, 1925,

R. BLASH RECORD RBPEATER FOR SOUND REPRODUGING INSTRUMENTS I Filed Sept. 18, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES. Pa"1.11-:1S1rvv oFFiCE.

EUDQLPH isLASH, on oiiicAGo, ILLiNois, AssIGNoR, BY iviEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To EDGAR S. BYEES, TRUSTEE, 0E CLEVELAND, 4OHIO.

E Eeoan EEPEATEE ron'vsoUNn-nEr-nonncine INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed ,September 18,' 1919. Serial No. 32455.42.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH BLASH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Copk and State of Illinois, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Record Repeatei's for Sound-Repi'oducing Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a .device in the nature of an attachment i'or a sound reproduc'ing instrument Which employs disk records, its purpose being to produce automatically a repetition of Sound from any selected portion of the record.

In the ,construction'of th'S- device, I have sought ,toemploy parts -Wliicli vare' inexpensive and siinpleto manufacture; to so arrange and design these parts in a unitary structure that it may be readily attachedy in place, or detached therefrom, Whenever required; Vand to provide means by which the position of the device may jbe shifted Whe-never an exchange of records is to be made.

Various other objects and uses as well will appear from the description to follow, wherein vreference is made to the accompanying drawings Y which sho-W a preferred embodiment of the invention in the yina-nner following:

Figure l is a raginentaryplan view of a talking machine .exhibiting the vpresent de.-

vice in operative relation to the sound reproducing parts;

Fig. -2 is a .transverse vsection through the turn table taken on line- 2-2 of Fig. l, exhibiting .the devioeinv side elevation;

Fig. V3 is a Y detail in section showing the connection between the base and hinge outer stop which cao-.operates With the needle of the sound box;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the inner stop looking toward the handle end;

" Fig, 7 is a transverse section through the track bar andassociated parts exhibiting the saine stop; h

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the rotatable post showing the relation .of the parts AC.- Ofperating therewith as they appear at an elevation such as is indicated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 9,;

Fig. 9 1S ga Side elevatf'on ofthe rotatable post enclosed Within its proteetive casing,

ords Aare correctly positioned. Mounted to.

swivel upon the base is a tone arm v17 equipped with the usual swngngsound box 18 from which projects a needle 1.9 adapted to track in the grooves of a record 20. In-v struments constructed in, this manner Weil known 'and require no further descriptien.

vThe partswliich are Special to this invention constitute in effect a bridge With one end supported on the base, its other end being carried on the spindle; a track bar carried@ by the 'bridge o o-.operates with means which causes one. end oft-he bai' to be raised aft-er the tone arm has ltraveled inwardly kto a desired point, the track bar bei-ng thereby. inclined to elevate the sound lbox so as toA disengage the needle from the recordyfollowing this vmovement the tone arm is returned under the action of vv-graxrfity-to a predetermined point for the replacement vof the needle upon the record. Inthis manner a rebrodlltionf 50951101 may. biifhad ,often es.

any given part .of vthe reeordvas desired,y and Without. lfurther attention of anyjkind.V

' AS part of this invention, I employ a base 21 v(See Figs; .3 ,and t); which, .in thel orm shown, consists of a plzatejbent ininverted tongue 25 struck up therefrom to lie parallel therewith but osettherefrom. Near the4 Y10o U form .to provide'feet. 22 from vwhich Walls 23 upstand to support a top 24: having a rear edge of the top lugs 26 are struck up as shown. The elevation of the top 24 may vary according to the height of the Walls 23, as will be apparent by reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Carried upon the top of this base is a hinge frame designated as 27 having a back and end walls 28 and 29, respectively, and a bottom 30 provided with a slot 3l corresponding generally to the tongue 25. Aci cording to this construction the hinge frame 27 may be locked to the base 2l by a sliding movement, during which the back wall 28 abuts the lugs 26 and the tongue 25 assumes an overlapping position upon the frame botn L f LOIR 30.

It may be stated that the purpose of the detachable connection just described is to allow the use of a base of pro-per height to support the hinge frame at the precise elevation required for the talking machine with which the present device is to be used. In other words, the device itself may be constructed according to one standard set of specifications, in which case the bases may f' be made o-f different height-s. In this mantain mechanism for ensuring a selected number of repetitions and for stopping the record automatically at the completion of the last repetition, but inasmuch as such parts are foreign to this invention, they will not be described in detail.

. Carried in the upper part of the hinge frame is a pin 32 extended between its end walls 29. Hinged to this pin through suitable ears is a bridge that extends horizontally over the record, following a curve that is determined by the point about which the tone arm swings as a center, and lying immediately below the lowest point of the sound box. The curvature of the bridge toward its inner end leads somewhere between the turn table center and the pivotal center of the tone arm, but at this point a bend 37 is formed which terminates in an eye 38 whose center is coincident with the center of the turn table. Arranged to revolve within the eye is the base 39 of a reversely threaded post 40, the base having an outwardly projecting flange 41 in underlying relation to the eye. Surrounding the post is a sleeve 42 having its lower end resting upon the flange 4l between the base 39 and eye 38, the upper end of the sleeve affording a support. for a plate 43 having a shoulder 44 depending from its lower side to enter slightly into the sleeve 42 so as to center the plate thereupon. An upper bearing for the post 4() is provided by means of a head 45 having a shank 46 adapted to project through an opening in the plate 48 to thread within a socket 47 in the upper end of the post. The lower end of the post which is also socketed may be equipped with a device for frictionally engaging the spindle of the rotating table, this application not being concerned with such parts which have already been disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 286,819. By the means described, the bridge is given support at both ends. At the inner end, however, it may be disconnected from the turn table spindle and swung upwardly out of the way of the record thereon.

Extending over the bridge, but in immediate proximity thereto is a. track bar 50 having its outer end provided with suitable ears through which the pin 32 extends to make hinged connection with the frame 27. The inner end of the track bar, however, may be raised or lowered so as to present the bar at an inclination. rlhe track bar follows the same curvature as the bridge and is adapted to act as an inclined surface on which the sound box may slide when the tone arm is to be returned to a selected position of adjustment relative to a record.

The means for elevating and lowering the track bar employs a. reversely threaded post of the kind disclosed in an application of Frank H. Adams, Serial No. 195,001, but differs therefrom in certain respects that will be now described in detail. The curved end portion of the track bar terminates in a head, designated as 51, that lies adjacent a slot 52 in the sleeve 42, this slot having a spiral formation as best shown in Fig. 2. Lugs 53 are formed on opposite ends of the head 5l and extend through suitable openings formed in ears 54 that are upturned from a bracket bar 55 extending for the length of the head 5l in underlying and spaced relation thereto. This bracket bar immediately adjacent the sleeve 42 is provided with another ear 56 having an opening therein to receive the shank 57 of an arcshaped dog 58 whose function is to ride within the ascending or descending threads 59 of the rotatable post 40. According to this construction the dog 58 may shift its angle to co-operate with either set of threads. As the track bar is elevated, the ear 56 will shift its posit-ion vertically `of the sleeve 42 so as to follow a course substantially the same as that of the spiral slot 52. The lower end of the sleeve may be slotted as at 60 to co-operate with projections 6l formed on the eye 38 so as to always present the spiral slot 52 in operative position relative tothe ear 56. during these movements shifts around upon the rotating post 40 until it assumes a position something like that indicated in Fig. 8. It will accordingly be understood that the mounting of the dog within the ear 56 is The dog ICU loose to permit .ofV a shift in its angular re-f lation to the ear as well as: in its angular relation to the threads ofthe post.

Thebracket bar 55 is in effect a head for an elongated sub bar 62 which underlies the track bar for the major portion of its length,

having its inner end 63 fixedly secured tlier-eto in any approved manner. By this varrangement there is provided between the track bar and the sub bar a slight space which is utilized for the mounting of a slidable stop designated as 64, and best shown in Figs. l, 6, and 7. This stop isformed with a bracket 65 which extends through the space between the track and sub bars, being provided with a pair of ears 66 lying adj acent each edge of the track bar so as tol maintain the bracket 65 in lateral relation thereto. The ends of this bracket,as best shown in Fig'. 7 each provide a pivotal. mounting as at 67for afinger 68 that rests as at 69 upon the bridge 35 and extends transversely thereof into the' path of the needle that tracks the grooves -of the record.-

' application of lateral pressure to the finger,

this relation of the parts is changed resulting in a rocking movement by which the track and sub bars are elevated slightly but sufficiently nevertheless to cause the dog to engage with the lowermost ascending thread of the revolving post, whereupon an inclination of the track bar ensues.l .The initial movement of the track bar that starts the dog climbing is caused by contact of the needle 19 with the finger, this latter element .being extended over the record in the path which the needle traverses as it approaches the center of the record.

' The outer stop consists of a finger 7l having a body portion 72 adapted to underlie the sub bar, ears' ybeing upturned therefrom to carry a pin 74 beneath which is a leaf spring 75 adapted to rest upon the track bar. The two ears 73 tend to maintain the finger laterally of the bridge, and this ac/tion may be supplemented by another ear y 7 6 as shown. The tension of the leaf spring upon the track bar is such as to normally hold the stop in any given position of adliustment thereupon. In the construction of this outer stop, it will be noted that certain parts occupy an overlying relation to the track bar, but this is not an objection since the sound box does not travel at any time directly over this stop, due to the engagement of the needle 19 with the finger 71. In

vthe case of the inner stop, however, the

lwould tend to interfere with such an operation; consequently it is designed to execute an upwardly swinging' movement. A

friction lock is provided moreover for mainvtaining the bridge in an upwardly inclined position untilev-erything is ready for its return movement which, in the construction shown, consists of a spring wire which may be held in place upon the under side of the bridge adjacent to its hinged. connection with the frame 27 as by means of a screw 81. The ends of the wire exert pressure upon the forward edge'sof the two when the bridge is upwardly inclined. Ow-v ing to the pressure with which theA wire ends bear upon these notches, the bridge is prevented from falling down to horizontal position, but with the application of suflicient pressure it may be replaced in operative position against the pressure of the wire. Below the notches 82 I have formed another r-ecess 83 where the wire ends may norma-lly'lie with diminished pressure. y

From the preceding description, it is thought that the operation of the present device will be entirely clear.v I am aware that devices of this general character'have heretofore been known in which the underlying operating principles are the sam-e, but,

in many respects, such devices have proved unsatisfactory or commercially impractical owing to structural defects, assembling difficulties, etc., so that it is with its coinponent parts, rather than with the device in its entirety, that this invention is priinarily concerned. In thel construction shown, I have attained simplicity andeconomy in manufacture, and certainty in operation as well, and in respect of its several improvements, or such modifications thereyof as may readily be effectedwithout departing` essentially from the invention as defined in the claims below,I desire protection to be accorded under this patent.

I claim:

1. The combination with a sound reproducing instrument having a t'urn tabl-e and a sound box, of means extending over the turn table below the sound box adapted -to raise and lower the sound box. said means being supported at its outer end by a frame,

and a base having a detachable connection with the frame and a fixed connection upon the instrument, substantially as described, said detachable connection permitting Ahe frame to be removed from the base by a lateral movement with respect to the base.

2. The combination with a sound reproducing instrument having a turn table and a sound box, of a base secured to the instrument, a frame detachably secured to the base by a connection permitting the frame to be detached from the base by a sliding movement laterally of the base, and ieans swiiigingly mounted on the frame adapted to extend over the turn table below the sound box for raising and lowering the same, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a sound reproducing instrument having a turn table and a sound box, of means extended over the turn table below the sound box adapted to raise and lower the sound box, said means being hinged about a horizontal axis to a frame that is secured to the instrument, and a spring device for holding said means in clevated position when swung' upwardly above the turn table, substantially as described.

L n an attachment of the class described provided with a pair of bars arranged one above the other, with the top bar adapted to swing' into an inclined position while the lower bar is normally stationary, the combination of a cylindrical shell pivoted at its lower' end to the inner end of the lower bar and disposed upwardly therefrom, a double threaded worm rotatably secured in said shell and terminating above the shell in an enlargement or thumb piece to permit manual operation of the worm, the side of the shell being provided with an elongated slot disposed from top to bottom, a worm-engag ing member pivotally secured to the inner end of the top bar and disposed through said slot into Contact with said worm, the inner end of said member' being disposed to opposite sides of its axis so as to cause said member to tilt and advance one portion of said inner end into operative engagen'ient with the threads of the worm.

5. In an attachment of the class described provided with a pair of bars arranged one above the other with the top bar adapted to swing into an inclined position, the combination of a cylindrical shell secured to the inner end of the lower bar and disposed vertically thereabove, a double threaded member rotatably secured at its upper end in the shell, the shell being provided with a longitudinal slot in its side, a member pivotally secured to the inner end of the top bar and disposed through the slot in said cylindrical shell, the inner end of said member being made arcuate and arranged to have one end of said arcuate portion move in advance of the other to form operative engagement with the double threaded member, with means arranged in the path of the tone-arm or sound-box and adapted to lift the top bar and thereby bring the arcuate portion of said pivoted member into operative engagement with the double threaded member.

6. In an attachment having a pair of bars, one of which is normally stationary while the other constitutes a lifting bar and elevating means, the combination of means adjustably mounted to move lengthwise of the bars, a portion of said means being pivoted and arranged to be engaged by the tone-arm or sound-box of a phonograph to be actuated thereby, said portion being arranged to bear on the normally stationary bar and press upward on the lifting bar and thereby provide operative relation between the inner end of the lifting bar and said elevating` means.

7. In an attachment of the class described, a pair of bars arranged one above the other, the upper bar being pivoted at the outer end, a shell or housing secured to the inner end of the lower bar and provided with an elongated slot in one side thereof, a worm rotatably mounted within said shell, and means eccentrically and pivotally mounted at the inner end of said upper bar and disposed through the slot of said shell or housing in contact with said worm, and a member arranged to lift the free end of said upper bar when said member is engaged by the tonearm or reproducer of a phonograph.

RUDOLPH BLASH. 

